Show your support for COCO

The most unloved name on the Internet today? Not a misbehaving starlet, but media giant NBC.

Outrage toward the network and its decision to put not-ready-for-primetime host Jay Leno back to his old Tonight Show 11:35 p.m. timeslot and to bump Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show to just after midnight – has officially gone viral. Tens of thousands of fans have taken to the Internet to show their support for the spurned O'Brien, who spoke out publicly against NBC's decision this week.

Abetting the crusade, according to The New York Times, Los Angeles artist Mike Mitchell sketched an heroic image of O'Brien standing in front of the American flag, his trademark red hair shaded an even brighter orange. Recalling one of the talk-show host's nicknames, Mitchell added the slogan "I'm with CoCo" to the image, which is now a viral sensation, inspiring pro-Conan Facebook groups and making Team Conan a top Tweet.

After NBC's announcement O’Brien earned a 2.3/6 in 56 local markets (the most immediate ratings available until nationals are released Jan. 22) and on Tuesday, his overnight rating jumped to a 2.8/7. His fourth quarter average in homes is 1.8/5. On both nights, however, Letterman still won the timeslot (3.4/9 and 3.8/9, respectively), according to http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com.....ntroversy/

If all those "fans" had watched his Tonight show regularly, NBC wouldn't want to move him back to his old time slot. But I wouldn't accept that, either.

I don't think 100% the issue is with Conan's ratings, however mostly with Leno's, and their wanting to keep him. I'd be willing to say anytime there is a host change there will be a dip in ratings. Which over time with solid leadins and advertising (assuming the guy doesn't suck) will recover and hopefully grow.

Maybe if No Balls Channel would have promoted Conan like they did the no talent talking chin, he would be doing better. I watch Never Backed Conan several times a week and all the commercials revolved around the Gray Haired, Howard Stern bit stealing Leno and what crap he was pushing. Leno screwed Letterman and now he is screwing Conan. Conan's tonight show is much funnier than Leno's and deserves a chance. What people aren't taking into consideration is Conan's youth appeal and our using of a DVR. I never watch anything live, except sports. I timeshift Conan or watch him on HULU. Long Live COCO.

That is an excellent point. I think the fact that so many people are timeshifting shows reveals the inaccuracy of the traditional rating system anyway. Advertisers should refuse to be bound by those results for pricing. We record practically everything and watch it later.

Industry insiders are saying that if Conan walks, and Leno returns there’s no guarantee that the audience will be there to welcome him back with open arms. With all this animosity hovering over him, it might be more beneficial for Leno to walk away than continue his involvement with the schemes of the network. It’s a lose-lose situation for him.

Is it true that Leno can actually refuse to move to 11:35pm because his current contract specifies 10pm? If he does that, NBC would have to cancel his show and pay off his contract. Then NBC is fully exposed as the villain, and Conan could stay in his new time slot, no longer a victim of this whole mess.